Laois defendant doubled his donation to charity
Portlaoise Courthouse
A PORTLAOISE man who was assessed by the probation services as posing a high risk of reoffending received a two-month suspended prison sentence at the local district court last week.
Richard O’Shea (33), Clonrooske View, Portlaoise had previously pleaded guilty to the unauthorised interference of a vehicle and to the theft of a purse valued at €80 on 9 February at Roselawn, Portlaoise.
His case had been adjourned to allow him time to engage with the probation service and with the Restore Justice Programme and for reports to be compiled on him.
When the case resumed last week, defending solicitor Philip Meagher said that while his client had agreed with the victim during the Restore Justice process to donate €100 to a charity, his client was offering €200.
Probation officer Shane McMahon said that Mr O’Shea is deemed to be at high risk of reoffending.
Mr Meagher said that Mr O’Shea had recently taken up employment with a refuse collection company.
Mr McMahon said the victim in the case had asked that €100 be donated to charity and acknowledged Mr O’Shea’s increased donation as being “very fair.” He said that the defendant “is now working part-time with AES and is making inroads into transforming his life. When he is clean and sober, he does very well.” “His focus now,” said Mr Meagher, “is on his family and on his job.” Noting that the probation services had recommended the defendant take part in community service, Judge Andrew Gubbins said: “Community service might interfere with his employment and family life. I commend him for pleading guilty at the first opportunity and for increasing the donation from €100 to €200. I will convict him of theft, impose a two-month sentence, which will be suspended for six months, and take the other charge into consideration.”
